Death: Well, here goes nothing. Apparently people like this more than Nightmare of the Fallen.
Chapter Two The Offer on the Table
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The night had been dull and uneventful in the travel. The assassin was blindfolded, hands tied behind his back, and pretty sure there were four to five people watching him in the cramped carriage. The rain had stopped just before dawn, and apparently they were close to their destination.
At first they tried to get a rile out of him. However they quickly learned that he would not budge from their antics. He was not going to show them any weakness, or a means to mess with him. It was better for his safety that he made them think he was dangerous, despite the restraints.
Kill them. They deserve it for capturing me.
No, he reasoned. There were too many of them. He had no means of killing them, and to top it off he had no idea where he was. And for whatever insane reason he decided to place his trust in the very man he was supposed to kill hours before.
Kenny will definitely be disappointed when he finds out.
And for some strange reason, he knew the Survey Corp wasn't enough to protect him from his mentor. Despite how many strategies Erwin could perform, Kenny will still find a way to get to him. It all depended on whether he was having a good or bad day on the amount of bodies it would take to reach him.
Just as he felt the rays of the sun touch his clothes, the carriage stopped. He heard the other carriages stop, and the commotion of people going about. He had focused on what was going on with outside his carriage that he shrank away from the hand that touched his shoulder. He wasn't used to contact that wasn't harsh, so the hand that was trying to be comforting was foreign and strange.
"Easy there, I was just checking if you were awake. I get the feeling you wouldn't like being carried." A familiar voice spoke softly. It took him a moment to remember the voice belonged to the one with brown hair and glasses he saw briefly.
"So, do you need help or…"
"No, thanks." Was all he said before he gracefully jumped out of the carriage, his legs wobbled upon landing. They had traveled without breaks, so his legs had been forced to remain folded to his chest for however long this trip had been.
Apparently he had startled some of the scouts, and he couldn't help but smile coyly at their reactions.
"What the hell is so funny, shorty?" One man stepped closer, not quite intruding his personal space.
"You lot act like children, it's no wonder the gay unicorns hate you." His coy smirk turned into a frown when the man came closer. He could feel the man's breath on his face, the faint disturbance of uniform against his clothes.
"What'd you say? I dare you insult us one more time!"
"Auruo, enough. Stop trying to act all tough to intimidate him. It's not going to work." A female voice that wasn't Glasses spoke up.
Finally someone else with sense.
"Stay out of this, Petra! This piece of shit excuse of a human needs to be taught a lesson he won't soon forget!"
Sensing the man was about to strike, he leapt to the side. Even when the man, Auruo, had missed, he moved for another punch. Having enough the assassin dodged again, this time sending out a sweep kick to his attackers leg. He felt satisfied at the sound of a thud and grunt that followed.
"How did you…!"
"First several years of training was with a blindfold. So if you idiots think I'm handicapped, you're wrong." He internally cursed at himself for giving away such information, and even more so as all it did was anger them more.
"So, shitty glasses, are you showing me the way or not?" His mind latched on to the one person he could name among these idiots that will help him.
Anger transformed into surprise. As far as they were concerned, he had never seen who he had described. He could smell the fear penetrating the air. He heard someone step out of the carriage he had been inside of for hours.
"Yes! Yes I shall! Do you mind if I ask you some questions on the way? You're so interesting! I could almost give up studying titans and Eren to study you, but I can make time for all three!" The one ally he had, although hyper, was gentle when locking one arm around his as means to guide him.
Why am I always attracting the hyper crazies? His mind briefly thought about Isabel, and felt a pang of guilt from memories he would rather forget.
They heard another carriage draw up, this one wasn't among the group that had arrived some minutes before. His guide had stopped, awaiting for whoever was inside to step out. This must be the carriage with the Titan pet they had been talking about.
"Hey, Mike! How's Eren doing?" Glasses inquired with concern.
"Good. Kid is still awake." The man said, seemingly surprised about that fact.
"Want to walk together with Eren, then? We're basically heading the same direction."
Without answering the man stepped down, and following after was another person. By the sound of the landing, this was a young man. If only he didn't have the blasted blindfold so he could see the one who can become a Titan.
"Who's that? I wasn't aware you guys were down to taking prisoners."
Damn the kid sounds young. Just how old is he? He couldn't guess more than seventeen.
"I'm an assassin, kid. They caught me last night. Now it looks like we're both going to be pets to the Survey Corp."
"Hey! I'm no one's pet! I'm here to help the war against titans. At least I can be of some help to the Survey Corp."
Damn, he's loud. And feisty.
"Tch. Whatever you say, kid. Believe whatever fantasies you have, but this is reality. You and I aren't much different, they're going to use us like tools. After all, we're nothing but monsters to them." He spat, suddenly hating the kid for being so naïve.
"That's not true! And stop calling me kid! How old are you, short stuff?"
He didn't want to do this to the kid, but he had to make a point of no one messing with him about his height. In a flash he twirled around full circle for a high kick to what he guessed was the kid's head. His boot met arms raised to block, and the sound of handcuffs caught his ear. Then he felt hands wrap around his ankle in a tight grip.
So they give him the decency of having arms. How annoying.
"Oi, brat, you can let go of my leg."
"How did you guess my height? You're blindfolded!" Eren was suddenly curious with the challenge the little spite was presenting.
"Don't underestimate assassins, brat. Now let go of my leg!"
"Guys, can we please calm down?" Glasses attempted to diffuse the situation, and failing poorly.
"He started it, Hange!"
"Nice try, but don't start putting the blame on everyone but you. All I did was speak truth, and you overreact." Decided to take matters into his own hands, he pulled his trapped leg closer to his body, effectively pulling the younger man closer to him.
"Whoa!"
Catching the kid by surprise he was able to push the kid back with his trapped leg. Now free of the Titan shifter, the assassin stepped closer to Glasses, who he finally had a name for the face. He may not be able to see at the moment, but he already wanted nothing to do with the Survey Corp's other pet.
"Are we going anytime or not? I've had enough of this shit."
"Sure, but…Eren is going to be next to your cell in the dungeon." Glasses seemed hesitant after the display.
"I can handle him better after I've had some sleep. And maybe tea, but I doubt you guys even have any."
"Hey, can I at least get a name? I don't want to say 'hey you', or 'short stuff' all the time. Name's Eren, just to start."
He stopped, unsure if it was the curiosity in that voice, or because he would rather inform a good portion of the populace he's going to be living with than one person spreading it around. What also bugged him was that the kid didn't have any animosity towards him despite what transpired a minute before.
"My name is Levi."
=3=
He learned a great deal within a couple of days. All of them were unsure how to interact with him, and overall left him alone. It felt awkward when he realized these people treated Eren better than him, especially when he found the kid annoying. Another odd thing was Erwin.
The man couldn't be here for a few days, as he was bringing in the new recruits himself. But his orders revolving around him were puzzling. Apparently, if he was decent in behavior, then they could remove the restraints that held his hands behind his back. Hange had the honors of doing so, since no one else wanted to be anywhere near him.
Because of that action Levi stuck himself to Hange. He felt uncomfortable around everyone else, although they were crazy, they had his respect. In a way Hange became his first friend despite being a prisoner. Perhaps it was because they didn't see him as everyone else did, or they didn't care.
And on the day Erwin was to return with fresh recruits, Hange brought him outside for the first time. He figured another part of the commander's orders were that if he didn't act out after his arms were unbound, then he could have supervised walks.
He felt relieved to be outside of the dark and depressing dungeon. What would have made his experience better was if the kid wasn't with them. But Hange was also in charge of watching over the brat, so the three walked around inside the once abandoned castle before heading to the stables since Eren had his chores to take care of his horse.
"So, Levi, are you enjoying your first outing?" Hange teased, but was genuinely curious.
"Anything's better than that shitty dungeon." As they walked by a stall, a dark head reached out and gently nibbled his hair.
"Oi, that tickles. Don't do that." Levi lightly swatted the nose away, but the horse persisted and rubbed its nose against his hand.
"Awww, she likes you! Her name is Stella, her previous owner died in the last mission. Since then she's been depressed. This is the first time I've seen her interact with anyone like that." Hange watched as Levi scratched behind her ear.
Hange smiled knowingly as the assassin adored the horse. Then an idea sparked, one to bring up with Erwin later for approval, since these two were lonely souls in need of each other. But for now they would give them a little space and turned to the young Titan shifter. Eren was in the middle of feeding his horse a few stalls down.
"Hange, you're turning your back against him? Isn't that a little unwise?" Eren sent an unnerved look.
"I trust Stella to keep him occupied. I think they're in love." At the boy's reaction Hange giggled. "Not the kind you're thinking, darling. They're two lonely souls in need of comfort, I think Stella sensed his loneliness and reached out to him."
At that Eren stared at Levi interacting with the mare. In his mind, he saw an arrogant assassin that shouldn't be trusted. But in his heart, he saw that if even a horse could see a lonely human, then what's the difference? Confused he returned to his task at hand as means of a distraction. The moment he finished the new recruits arrived.
"Eren!" Two familiar voices chimed at the same time.
He turned and grinned at the sight of Mikasa and Armin. He almost pulled them into a hug, but stopped when he saw other familiar faces. Eren was a mix of surprise and confusion at the sight.
"Jean!? I thought you would be in the inner city by now. Why are you here?"
"I'm not here because of your little speech or anything." Jean crossed his arms. "I just want to know one thing: can you control it?"
"What?"
"Boy, you sure gotten dull and stupid already. And you were already stupid to begin with. I said, can you control your Titan form?"
"…To be honest? Not really." Eren looked down, as if defeated.
"Well then, I hope you learn soon. We all risked our lives by joining the Scouts. We're putting our faith in you, and you can't even control it. I'm not looking forward to the day you turn on us and we have to kill each other."
"I don't plan on killing anyone! I just want to kill titans. But I don't know how to practice when I can't transform."
A wave of shock swept through everyone around them. It was so intense Levi stared at the group with distaste. He had been enjoying the attention from a new friend, and the mood was ruined. He had overheard the entire conversation, and he didn't like where it was going.
"Then what's the point of us being here?"
"If you sad lot put so much faith in him for the future of humanity, then you can't just drop it because he has a few setbacks." Levi twitched when all eyes turned to him, he didn't know why he was getting involved but he was.
"Because if you're disappointed about how much time and effort it will take, then you shouldn't have put faith in him in the first place. And now you're stuck here, the chances of dying are high, and you can't blame anyone but yourselves."
"Oh yeah, then what do you believe?" Jean glared at him, thinking he was one of the Scouts.
"Honestly? All I see is a brat who needs a reality check, to stop moping around and actually do something about it. And you lot, should stop and reconsider your lives. You're stuck here, and you're blaming him? How childish of you, of all of you. You're all sad pathetic excuse for humanity."
"That's enough. I think they get the point. You didn't need to be so harsh, you know."
Startled, Levi nearly jumped at the sound of Erwin's voice. He didn't hear the man walk up behind him. Levi was always hyper aware of his surroundings, and for someone other than Kenny to walk up behind him undetected was startling. He had to rewind his mind not to perceive the man as an enemy, calming his heart rate.
"Might I suggest to never sneak up behind an assassin? You might earn yourself a death wish." Levi narrowed his eyes, still trying to calm his racing heart and mind.
"Wait, he's the assassin you warned us about?" One of the recruits looked from Erwin to Levi and back.
"Levi isn't that bad unless you're on his bad side. Then he's pissy for the rest of the day and takes it out on everyone else."
Steel grey caught bright green, once again surprised for the second time today. The brat acted like he hated his guts, and yet he spoke up for him against his own friends. Was it because of what he did earlier? Levi only did what he did out of spite at his childish these people were doing. It had nothing to do whether he could relate to the brat or not. Absolutely not.
"Now, if you would all excuse us, Levi and I have something important to discuss." Erwin began to walk, and the short man was quick to follow.
When they were safe from earshot, the commander gave him a strange look.
"Levi, huh? You didn't bother telling me your name, and yet you told Eren. Did something happen while I was gone?"
"Nothing special. We're both tools for you, a means to an end. So, if I'm a tool, what will you use me for?" Cold eyes stared at Erwin, almost as if he were seeing through him.
"That's a rather disturbing way to put it, Levi. Is that how you see the world, black and white?" The commander was skirting the subject, blue eyes that held the sky in them darkened.
"That's how I've been raised. And you're avoiding the question."
"I would much rather have this conversation in my office, away from prying ears. It's not too far of a walk."
"You trust me that easily to be alone with you in your office? What makes you think I won't kill you?"
At that Erwin laughed.
"Because, you're curious. You want to know what I'm planning, and whether or not it's worth sticking around to help me. I know you're fighting yourself, a part of you wants to go back the way the world was before your capture. Meanwhile, another part of you wants to stay to see how this plays out."
Levi stared, his face expressionless, allowing no hint what was going on inside his head. The only possible hint were his eyes, they were storming, unsure what to think of this man. He didn't know how the man guessed what was going on inside his head. Actually he didn't want to know.
"That might be accurate, but you have no idea how terrified I am if I actually decide to stick around. You have no idea the troubles of keeping me will cost you." Levi resisted the shivers at the thought of Kenny and his gang, the best team to wipe out a large number of people. While Kenny was considered the best, he still had his limits when he had to take out a group at once. Hence he created a gang of the best he could teach.
Levi would have been part of it, but he and his uncle knew he worked best solo. And it would have brought them problems, if any of the others were jealous of his position and saw competition.
"Those are risks I'm willing to take. I went through too much trouble to capture you."
"Tch. You sound like some love struck idiot in those stupid romance novels the nobles like to call literature." Levi didn't enjoy how the man executed his reason, especially when they had just arrived in the commander's office.
Levi twitched at the state of the office. It was cluttered, smelled musty, and everything was covered in dust. The only signs of the room being an office was the fresh piles of papers on the desk.
"Your office is horrible." Levi deadpanned, watching the commander sit in an old chair.
"I haven't had the chance to clean." Erwin defended with a sheepish grin, motioning for the other chair on the other side of the desk.
"I'd much rather stand. I'm not touching that." Levi glared at the offensive furniture with disgust. He had to force his will not to find something to clean the chair. If he started cleaning now he wouldn't stop until the whole office was done.
"So, you're probably wondering what I need your help for. While you pointed out that, yes, Eren would be a big step in the fight against titans. Especially once he fully learns how to control it. However, there will be obstacles in our way. The government, for example."
Levi stared in bewilderment.
He seriously can't be thinking what I think he is.
"At the moment, they're allowing us to do what we want to fight for humanity. However, I don't believe that will last. While I think Eren will be great to draw in more support, that alone won't be enough. I have a few theories, no solid evidence as of yet, but I believe that the government officials plan to get rid of the Survey Corp by killing off a few of us then disbanding, or killing all of us entirely."
"Are you paranoid or something? What makes you think they will kill an entire section of the army?" Levi couldn't disregard Erwin, but he couldn't agree either.
"I found a letter that had hints of the king planning to rid us from this world. However, I can only say that it hints, for the writer focused more on getting rid of Eren to keep him out of our hands."
"Okay, so you want me to dig up more evidence of this. I get that. But why capture me to help you with this? There's more to it, isn't there?" Levi was catching on that this was only the beginning.
"Yes, there is more. There's been rumors going around that a noble family has lost all heirs recently, except for a bastard child. That one child has been missing, and possibly joined the training recruits a few years back. And now the father is searching, but doesn't know which faction the child joined."
"What makes this family so special?"
"They're in relation to the king. If we can find this child, or young person, then we have a trump card against the government." Erwin stared at the assassin with all seriousness.
"And what do you plan to do?"
"Stage a coupe. Surely you should have seen that coming. But we can't do it ourselves, we have the Military Police to face. They're an obstacle I can't overlook. But if we enlist the help with General Pixies, we might stand a chance."
"What do you get out of this?"
"I get nothing but the freedom to keep fighting titans. Humanity has to expand at some point, and we need territory that we lost eight years ago. If the officials had it their way, we will never see that day."
"Then why go out of your way to capture me for this? Why not use one of your lackeys as your pawn to get information?" Levi was getting frustrated, he saw no point of him being here to help. This plan the man he was supposed to kill days before has a dangerous plan. If they were caught, it would be the end for anyone in or associated with the Survey Corp.
Levi may be a killer, but he had more class than that. He didn't want the safety of a thousand people within his hands. He would never be able to forgive himself. No amount of washing could rid his hands of their blood.
"For several reasons. I need someone with expertize, someone who knows their way around the officials. Someone who knows the government inside out. Someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty if need be. I know very well most of my soldiers wouldn't want to kill humans no matter what."
At that Levi felt his chest grow cold, chilled as if hell had frozen over. Very carefully, hiding all emotion from his face and voice when he spoke his last inquiry.
"What do I get in return of all this?"
"Freedom. You will be free from the life of an assassin. If you want, you can join the Survey Corp. Actually I encourage you to join, this way we have reason for keeping you here with us. But after this is a over and done with, you can choose what to do with your life from then on."
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Death: I originally planned this to be a somewhat short story. I think I just made this so much more complicated and transformed into a longer story.
Please leave a review, the lot of you Shingeki no Kyojin are rude to favorite and not review. I enjoy the criticism and the encouragement.